Virginia’s Statewide Community Action Association
About VACAP
What is Virginia Community Action Partnership?
Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP) is the statewide membership association for Virginia’s thirty-one non-profit private and public community action agencies. VACAP’s mission is to build the capacity and competencies of Virginia’s community action agencies to achieve their mission of creating economic opportunities and facilitating mobility from poverty for the people of Virginia. At VACAP, we are committed to a future in which all of Virginia’s community action agencies are high impact and people and places across Virginia are thriving.
What is a Community Action Agency?
A community action agency (CAA) is a local organization with the mission of reducing poverty through locally-designed and delivered programs and services that are targeted to the specific needs of the community. CAAs exist in almost every county and city in the United States. Most agencies are private nonprofits and some agencies are units of local county or city government. CAAs are designated by the Governor and locally controlled. They are governed by a tripartite Board that represents the low-income community, local elected officials, and private and public community stakeholders. CAAs receive funding and authority from the federal Community Services Block Grant.
What is the Community Services Block Grant?
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) was enacted under the CSBG Act in 1981 and authorizes block grants to states. It is administered by the Office of Community Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. States are required to pass through 90 percent of their block grant allotments to CAAs, and may keep up to five percent of allotments for administrative costs. The remainder is used for statewide activities.
When did Community Action begin?
Community Action was a centerpiece of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty and was established in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. In addition, the Act created Head Start, Job Corps, Legal Services, Adult Basic Education, Community Health Centers, Weatherization Assistance, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, job training for adults and youth, VISTA and other programs. In 1981, the Economic Opportunity Act was repealed and Community Action and the nationwide network continues under the CSBG Act.
What does a typical Community Action Agency look like?
CAAs are as varied as the communities and populations they serve. While many low-income organizations focus on a single area of need, CAAs address the multitude of short-term and long-term needs facing poor people, through a comprehensive range of coordinated programs. Agencies conduct data-driven community needs assessments to inform planning. They partner with numerous public and private entities to design and deliver services. No two CAAs look alike, but they all aim to improve the lives of poor people, help them work toward self-sufficiency, and ensure the availability of opportunities and resources within their community. They typically provide some combination of services related to emergency assistance, education, housing, nutrition, income management, and health care or refer people to other agencies who provide one or more of these services. Many CAAs have adopted a two-generation or whole family approach and address the interrelated needs of multiple generations in a single household.
How is a Community Action Agency funded?
Each CAA receives an allotment of federal CSBG funding passed through by the state. CAAs administer a range of other federal programs, often including Head Start, Weatherization Assistance, federal nutrition programs, housing assistance, workforce development and job training, programs for the elderly and other programs. State and local governments and private contributions support the budgets of most CAAs, and thousands of volunteers donate their time.
Who can become a Community Action Agency?
Community Action Agencies are private non-profit or public agencies that were created by the federal government to combat poverty in geographically designated areas. Community action agencies have received designation as a community action agency either from the local government or the state government. They are required to have a governing board consisting of at least one-third democratically selected representatives of low-income people, one-third local public officials, and the remainder representatives of business, industry, labor, religious, social welfare and other private groups in the community. Community action agencies have been designated to serve almost every city and county in Virginia.
Where can I find the latest data on Community Action activities in Virginia?
Click here to read the latest data.
Our 2026 – 2027 Officers
- Chair: Brian Phipps
- Vice–Chair: Jennifer Daniels
- Secretary: Angela Penn
- Treasurer: Terri Gillespie
- Parliamentarian: Michael Rogers
- Immediate Past Chair: Kevin Otey
Current VACAP Audit (new January 2026)
New VACAP Annual Report (January 2026)
Virginia CASH Campaign Infographic 2025 Tax Filing Season
Our Promise. Our Mission. Our Vision.
Virginia Community Action Partnership shirts, polos and jackets are available at our exclusive Lands’ End Store. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Virginia Community Action Partnership and Virginia CASH Campaign merchandise is available at our exclusive Bonfire Store. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Erik Johnston, President and Chief Executive Officer
Erik Johnston serves as the President and CEO of the Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP). He leads this statewide membership association in advancing the priorities of the thirty-one non-profit private and public community action agencies that are focused on creating economic opportunities and facilitating mobility from poverty for the people of Virginia. He is recognized as leader that is innovative, collaborative and mission focused on being a partner that delivers results in partnership with the people and places of Virginia.
Erik previously served as Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). He grew the agency’s budget from $150 million annually to $350 million annually and secured an additional $2 billion in pandemic relief programs through effective communication and advocacy about community needs and effective delivery of programs in housing, workforce training, eviction prevention, access to capital, economic development, community development, broadband deployment, building codes and service to vulnerable populations and people experiencing homelessness. DHCD became recognized as a national leader in serving people and places in areas such as rent relief, regional collaboration, broadband deployment and more during his term of service and as a model employer that focused on supporting its employees as the agency adapted to the pandemic work environment. He served as staff lead to the GO Virginia Board and the Board of Housing and Community Development and was selected by his peers nationally to serve on the board of directors of the Council of State Community Development Agencies. He also served on the boards of Virginia Housing, Virginia Economic Developers Association, Appalachian Regional Commission, Opportunity Virginia, and Housing Forward Virginia.
Erik also served as Chief Deputy of DHCD and as Deputy Policy Director in the Office of the Governor during his more than six years of appointed public service to the Commonwealth of Virginia. He served local government associations for over a decade during service as Director of Government Affairs for the Virginia Association of Counties and as Associate Legislative Director with the National Association of Counties. In those roles he worked with county leaders on delivery of grant programs and advocacy at the federal and state level.
Erik earned his B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 2003. He also earned a Certificate in Local Government Management from Virginia Tech in 2013 and completed his Masters in Public Administration from Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy in 2014. He attained the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives in 2014 and completed the VCU Performance Management Group’s Virginia Executive Institute in 2016.
Erik’s roots and experience in Virginia run deep as he lived in Richmond as a child, grew up in Roanoke County, went to college in Fredericksburg and lived in Alexandria for this first part of his career. As President and CEO of VACAP, Erik is based in Richmond, but is also frequently traveling across the Commonwealth or in Washington, DC representing the VACAP membership.
Shikee Franklin, Deputy Executive Director
Shikee Franklin serves as the Deputy Executive Director and will help lead VACAP’s strategy, operations, and program/grants portfolio.
Ms. Franklin served as Senior Director of Early Childhood Education for Hampton Roads Community Action Program, providing executive oversight of the largest Head Start program in VA, serving more than 1,000 children and families with annual budget exceeding $18 million. Additionally, she has competitive grant writing experience within community action agencies, county government, and school division. Over the last 12 months she has secured approximately $1million in new funding for the County of Greensville to support various initiatives including water and sewer, family support services, and services for children with special needs.
A respected leader throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ms. Franklin has served on numerous state advisory committees and workgroups, including those that helped shape Virginia’s Unifying Preschool initiative. She served as the first Chairman of VDOE Early Childhood Advisory Committee, served on the Virginia Department of Education’s Child Health and Safety Regulations Work Group, and past president of Virginia Head Start Association. Her leadership extends beyond her profession through service with civic, faith-based, and community organizations, including the Girl Scout Troop Leader, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, and Galilee Baptist Church.
Ms. Franklin holds a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Science in Business Organization, and an Associate Degree in Business Management. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including Inside Business Hampton Roads’ Top 40 Under 40 and an Honorary Doctorate in Christian Leadership. She is widely recognized for her collaborative leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to creating opportunities that improve the lives of children, families, and communities.
Carolyn Spohrer, Vice President of Operations
Carolyn Spohrer serves as the Vice President of Operations of the Virginia Community Action Partnership. She administers the Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets Savings and Hope) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Initiative grant program, working with coalitions to provide free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs across the Commonwealth. Carolyn manages the VACAP office and coordinates conferences, meetings and training workshops for the community action network and the VITA program. Before joining VACAP in 2004, Carolyn was Area Director for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Virginia. She is a graduate of Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science and taught at the high school level for many years.
Tammy Breski, Grants Program Manager
Tammy Breski serves as Grants Program Manager at Virginia Community Action Partnership. She is a program manager with over 20 years of experience in telecommunications and broadband, including more than five years leading large-scale state and federal grant programs. Tammy has a proven track record in full grant lifecycle management, compliance, and data reporting, and is recognized for building cross-sector partnerships that advance economic opportunity and digital equity. Tammy has managed multimillion-dollar broadband initiatives, developed program guidelines, and provided technical assistance to local governments and community organizations across Virginia. Known for developing efficient processes and ensuring fiscal accountability, Tammy is passionate about mission-driven work that strengthens community capacity and long-term program impact. Tammy holds an MBA from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering from SUNY ESF.
This website is supported by Grant Number 90EDA0004-01-03 from the Office of Community Services within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Community Services.
Member News
Working together to collaboratively care for the entire community with a dedication to helping people help themselves and each other.
Events & Training
A comprehensive calendar of meetings, workshops, trainings and events for Community Action and Virginia CASH Campaign.
